Compensating driving mechanism.



s. D. mim. COMPEHSATING DRIViNG MECHANISNI.

AFPLECATIQN FILE APR. 28, 15H5.

Patented Sept. 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

EWR?

5. n; ALLEN.

GOMPENSATING DRIVING NIECHANISM,

APPLICATION F|LED APR. 28, 1915* @gv@ atentedept. Il, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

- narran Specication 0i Letters li'etent.

,application filed April 528, 1316. Serial No. 94H20.

To all @07mm t may concern:

Be it known thatI I, donn D. ALLEN, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the eounty of Philadelphia and State oit' Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Conipeir sating` .Driving liechanisin, oit which the following is a. specification.

lilly' invention relates to the dri vine; inechanisni of motor vehicles and consists in a novel construction, or crinbination of inea-ns, which l terni a compensating driving" meclr anisin, for transmitting the power to the wheels, wherebyv certain advantages are obtained, owing to the facts that:

it eliminates the ordinari7 differentialv and the friet-ion and consequentloss of power occasioned thereby', while permitting a differential action of the wheels.

It provides for a positive drive of both wheels forward, while permittingr the outer wheel to turn faster than the inner one on a curve.

It provides for automatically connecting at least one of the wheels to the power shaft when the latter is reversed, or when the power is cut uit and the vehicle is coasting and, at. the rame time` for either entirely disconnecting' one of the wheels from the power shaft, or-when both wheels drive on reverse-for enabling' the outside wheel on a curve to turn faster than the inside one.4

lt thus provides for automatically causing' tlievehicle to drive 'the `motor as a coinpressor when it is traveiine' under its own momentum, wherelov lone; grades can he descended without the use of the brakes, and the danger ot ioss of control is minimized, should the motor loecorne stalled and the brakes fail to act when the vehicle is aseending a hill.

Broadljv stated, the construction comprises a continuous hoilow driving" shaft journaled within toe hired hollow rear axle and conun?? haii.'

wheels thereto for reverse drive, the overriding clutch of the other wheel` being; at the saine time disengaged so 'that said wheei is ,tree to turn either faster or slower than the other or driven wheel. :in some cases, such as heavy motor-trucks, it is necessary or desirable to he able to drive both wheels on reverse and l have therefore provided an additional clutch, to he manually throw` into engagement iov the oiierator, for con necting the otherwise free wheel. to shaft also on reverse drive. This additional clutch will notI ordinarily he used on passenger ears.

T his construction, hereinafter described .in detail and shown in the drawings, makes it impossible to lock or drag;l either wl'ieel, either on forward or backward drive` eliminates skidding' and does away with i'.i iction losses causei'l liv intermeshing gears. This api'ilication is ay continuation in part oif'injv ai'iplieatiou tiled March 20, 1915 and allowed Dcceinlierif, i915, Serial No. M828, which, in turn, is a continuation oi` iny prior z uplication, Ser. No. 813,577, iiled January 2l., 1914-.

Figure l is a plan view, 'partlyT in section, off a driving' niechanisni embodying1 miT invention, with the driving" ,gear at one limit of its turning,movement on the main shaft.

2 is a simiiar view with 'ill `the driving` mechanism shown in section, and with the driving rear at the other limit oi its turning` infn/'ement on the main shaft.

Figi'. Bis a cross-section on line T5-3 in Figi:

Fin', fi is Fia. Q: i

is a cross-section lhalfv on line 5 and half on line ISL-5a in iifig. l, and

llipf. (i is a. cross-section on line in Fig. l. v

'in these views, fi represents the lower haii" ot the inclosingf casing which, with the tuinilar extensions 2, constitutes the rear axle oi." the vxehicle. 3 represent-s the povver-s-liait, carrying hevei-ninion el, which meshes with, main drivingl gear 5, huh f3 of' which is mounted so as to he canalole of a limited 'turning' movenient on the central hollow non tion l1 oi the main driving shaft, which comprises said central portion ll and the tubular portions l0, l0. having Hannes l2, l2, between which ll is securely held, as h v bolts 19, said tubular portions being" joura crossscction -on line 2i-lf in naled in ball bearings 9, 9. The turning movement of gear 5 on the central portion 11 of the shaft is limited'by the lug 7, carried by the hub 6 of the gear, striking against the shoulders 18, 18, at the ends of a peripheral groove 17, formed in said shaft portion 11. Cushioning means may be provided on said shoulders. Y

Heads 13, 13, journaled in ball bearings 8, S, have reduced ends 14, 14, rotatably litting in the ends of the shaft porti-ons 10, 10, and have polygonal sockets in their outer' cnds'to receive the similarly shaped ends 16, 16, of stub-shafts 15, 15, which are connected to the wheels, not shown.

Each head 13 has rigidly secured to it a ratchet lclutch member 20. rotatably mounted on the end ol sleeve or tubular portion 10, and held against outward longitudinal movement thereon by a collar Q1. screwed on the end of said sleeve. The head may be secured I to the clutch member in any convenient way, as by lugs 2.2 on the one fitting recesses in the other, (see Figs. 2 and 5), and being locked in assembled position by a screwring 23.

Conjugate clutch members 30, 30, are

A keyed to slide on shaft portions 10, 10` and are normally kept in engagement with clutch members Q0, 20, by spring pressure. On the right-hand endot the shaft, as shown in these drawings` this pressure is afforded by a coil spring 3l, surrounding the shaft l0, while at the lett-hand end, the spring 32 is within the sleeve 10 and bears against a tubular member 33, which slides in shai't 10 and on the reduced extension 17 oi the head '13 and which is rigidly secured to the clutch Said cam sleeve 4() is mounted within they central portion 11 of the driving` shaft, bcing slidably keyed thereto, as'at 4l. It is moved longitudinally therein by the said turning movement of the driving gear on the shaft, the connecting means consisting of two pins 45, carried by the hub of said gear,` passing through segmental slots 4G, cut in through the periphery ot sha't't portion 11, in a plane at right angles to the axis and engaging with their ends in helical grooves 47, cut in the periphery of Camsleeve 40.

On the opposite side from said reduced end portion 42, sleeve 40 has a similar extension 48, carrying a pin 49, which passes through a slot 52, cut in the stern 5L of ,le verse clutchV member 50 which is slidably keyed, as at 53, within shaft 10. A coil spring 54 is located around stem 51,y and bears against extension 48 of sleeve 40 at one end and against the shoulder of clutch'V member 50 at the other.-

The teeth of clutch member 50 are also ratchet teeth, (although they may be squarewhen the additional reverse clutch-herein after described-for theother wheel is used) but face in the opposite direction to those of the clutches 30, and engage with opposed teeth formed on the end 14 of head 13, when sleeve 40 is moved to the right, thereby positively connecting said head and the .driving y the forward shoulder 18 of the shaft center portion 11, and the sleeve 40 is held in its lett-hand position. The ratchet clutches QO-30 are held in engagement by their springs, 31 or 32, and the wheels are-driven thereby. Vilhen the vehicle travels in a curved path, the clutch member 20 of the wheel on the outside overrides its conjagatel clutch member 30, the latter being forced back against its spring.

Now when the power-shaft 3 is reversed, gear 5 turns backwardly on 11 until 'the other side of lug 7 strikes the opposite shoulder 1S. This turning movement of the gear on the shaft causes sleeve 40 to be cammed to the right, forcing-through spring clutch member 50 into engagement With the teeth on 14, and pulling-through pin 38, tubular member 33-36 and pins 34--1efthand clutch member 30 out ofengagement with its conjugate clutch member 20. thereby leaving the left hand wheel entirely free fifrom the driving shaft, while the righthand wheel is driven backwardly by the power shaft through clutch-members 50-14, at which time right-hand ratchet clutch 20-30 remains in engagement without hav- .ing any effect whatsoever.

It the rearward travel isin a curved path "the left-hand wheelis free'to turn 'faster or .ch'tch is left in engagement.

In the -case of heavy cars, such as motor sei trucks, it is desirable atftimes to be able to drive both Wheels on reverse and, for that purpose, l. have providel the following' mechanism, whereby the left-hand wheel can also be connected to the shaft when its connection, through clutch 20-30, is broken, or is in the position illustrated in Fig. l.

To accomplish this, l mount a clutch member rigidly on lclutchfmember 30, and slidably key a, conjugate clutch member (il on head 13 and clutch member 20. 61 can be thrown into engagement with @Oby a sliding ring mon form, with a forked lever 63, pivoted at 64 in the casing l, its outer arm having a toothed segment 65 on its ends, meshing' with rack teeth 66, formed on a slidimg` bar G7, which also carries rack teeth GS on its upper face, with which mesh the teeth 69 of a lever 70, pivoted at 7l in a cap 72 bolted to the casing and connected at its other end to a, foot-pedal or `the like (not shown) in. convement position for the driver to actnate.

Clutch GO is set far enough hach of clutch 30,-on which it is secured` so thatv when the latter is advanced in its normal position of engagement with clutch 20, clutch 60 will `not engage clutch 6l, but the latter can be slid forward, by the means just describiul` to engage it with clutch GO, even when the lat-- ter is in its retracted position.

A latch device (not shown) will be nro vided to hold clutch G1 in engagement with 60, until 'the forward movement of clutch 30, into engagement again with clutch 20, forces clutch 6l back, when the latch releases it and a spring, which mayv be mounted on the `pivot (il, as tracts clutch 61 to 'the position showin Having thus described my invention what l claim ist- 1. In a. mechanism of the class described, the combination with a driving shaft and a member to be driven thereby, of an over-rid ing clutch connecting;- the same, a driving gear mounted on said shaft so as to be capa ble of a limited turningjlr movement thereon, a second clutch to connect said member to said shaft, and connections between. gear and said second clutch such that the latteis thrown into and out of engagement by the said turning' movement of 'the gear.

2. In a driving: mechanism for motor vehicles, the combination with Y the wheel shafts and the power shaft, of automatic means for connecting' the latter to both tho wheel shafts forforward drive, and menne, operated automatically by the reversal of the power shaft, to connect one only of the wheel shafts thereto for reverse drive.

3. ln a driving mechanism for motor vehicles, the combination with the wheel shafts and the drivingr shaft, of means connecting the Wheel shafts to said driving shaft for forward drive while permitting either and'yoke connection 62, of com .driving` shaft journaled indicated at 74, re-v wheel to tarn faster than a driving; mounted on shaft so as to have a limited tur tion thereon, a clutch for eon'rieeting one only of the wheel shafts 'to said dribrfing;u shaft for reverse drive, and connections be. tween .said and said clutch vhereby the latter is thrown into engagement when the gear is reversed or the shaft runs faster than the gear.

l. fr drivingmechanisn'i for motor vehi cles. comprising' 'the combination, with the fixed hollow axle of the vehicle, of a. hollow therein, a driving' gear ha ving' a limited 'turning movement on said shaft. overriding` clutches comiecting said shaft to the wheels, a. reverse clutch@ member slidablv keyed within said shaft, a cooperating' clim-h member connected to one ol' the wheels, and connectioiia whereby the turning` movement of the ,gear on the shaft slides said clutch .member into aLl. engagement 5. il dri cles, tannin'.A ing' a dr 1, clutches connecting the me to the waeele for forward drive, a driving' gear mounted on said shaft and capable o a limited turning movement thereon, and :uitu 'onal moana to clutch said shaft to one ol ie 1 on. reverse drive. said means being; automa'ti cally thrown .into and ont of operative posi tion by the said turningl `rear on the shaft,

G. A driving,I mecha nisin for motor vehiclescomprising,r a hollow driving' driving,u gear mounted to have a turning' movement thereon, ratchet nu i connecting' said sha ft to the wheels for to' ward drive, an additional clutch monili wit-hin said hollow shatt and conne Ved one of the "wheels,I a cooperating; clutch member keyed to and movable longftud nallv of said shaft, and means con rentiA said movable clutch member to said t such that it is automatically moved i"'.- ont of engagement by thi turi'iing movement of on the shaf l, ln a driving mechanisiin for motor ve hicles, the eonibii'iatitm ol a hollow driving' movement of the een shaft adapted to be supported between and of said heads, said clutches serving.' mr the forward drive, a driving ,igi'far mounted on said driving shaft so aa to have l imite o. l

turning, movement thereon, said shaft being slotted within the hub of said gear, a lug in said hub passing through said slot, 4and means within the driving shaft to connect 5 it to one of said headed shafts for reverse drive, said means being so constructed and arranged that said lug holds it disconnected during forward drive. t

8. In a driving mechanism for motor ve- -hicles, the combination of a hollow driving shaft adapted to be supported between and in alinement with the wheel shafts of the vehicle, headed shafts journaled in the ends of said driving shaft and having angular 15 sockets vfor the reception of the ends of the wheel shafts, coperating ratchet clutch members on said headed shafts and on the ends of said driving shaft, respectively, whereby the wheel shafts are positively driven forwardly but either wheel can overrun the other, reverse clutching teeth formed on the inner end of one of said headed shafts,

a co erating movable toothed member carriedv y the driving shaft, a driving gear mounted on said'driving shaft so as to have a limited turning movement thereon, said shaft being slotted within the hub of said gear, and a lng in said hub passing through said slot, the turning movement of said g ar on the drivin shaft causing said lug to move and hold sai member out of engagement during forward drive.

9. A driving mechanism for motor ve.- hicles, comprising a single driving gear, a

l5 through shaft on which the same is mounted, connectionsbetween saidl shaft and thel vehicle wheels operative on frward drive, and an independent connection between said shaft and one only of the wheels, operative 4o on reverse drjve.

10. A driving mechanism for motor vehicles, comprising a single driving gear, a hollow through shaft on which the same is mounted so as to haf'e a limited turning movement thereon, connections between said shaft and the vehicle wheels, operative on forward drive, and an independent connection between said shaft and one only of the wheels for reverse drive, said last mentioned .50 connection being mounted within said shaft and being/t antomat'ically controlled` byv .the turning movement of the gear on the'shaft'.

11.' A driving mechanism for motor vehicles, comprising a single driving gear, a

through shaft onwhich the/same is mounted so as to have a limited. turning movement thereon, clutc connections, operative on forwardvdrive only, between said shaft and the/vehicle wheels, an independent clutch leoconnecting said shaft to one only of the wheelsJfor reverse drive, said clutch being engaged and disengaged by said turning movement of the gear on the shaft, and means, carried by said clutch, to disengage 55 the'connection between said shaft and the other wheel when said clutch is inl engagement.

12. A driving mechanism for motor vehicles, comprising a driving shaft, a driving gear thereon, ratchet clutches to connect said shaft to the wheels for forward drive, an independent clutch to connect one of the wheels to said shaft for reverse drive, connections between said gear and said independent clutch whereby thc latter is automatically thrown in and out when the power is reversed, and a manually operated clutch for connecting the other wheel also to said shaft for reverse drive;

13. A driving mechanism for motor vehicles, comprising a driving shaft, a driving gear thereon, ratchet clutches to connect said shaft to the wheels for forward drive, an independent clutch to connect one of the wheels to said shaft for reverse drive, connections between said gear and said independent clutch whereby the latter is automatically thrown in and out when the power is reversed, a manually operated clutch for connecting the other wheel also to said shaft 90 for .reverse drive, and means to automatically disengage said last mentioned clutch on forward drive.

14. In a driving mechanism for motor vchicles, the combination with thev wheel 1 shafts and the power shaft, of over-running means for'connecting the latter to the wheel shafts for' forward drive, and means, oper ated automatically by the reversal of said power shaft, to connect one of the wheel shafts to said power. shaft and entirely disconnect the other.

15. In a driving mechanism for motor vehicles, the combination of a driving shaft, a driving gear connected thereto to drive the same but so' as to be capable of a limited turning movement independently of said shaft,"overriding clutches connecting said shaft vto 'the wheels for forward drive, an independent clutch for connecting one of the wheels to said shaft for reverse drive, and connections between said gear and independent clutch whereby independent relative movement between said gear and shaft causes said independent clutch to be thrown s in or out.

ment of said independent ehiteh into engagement disenguges the overriding ehiteh of the other wheel.

17. A compensating driving mechanism for motor vehicles, con'iprising Jnhe eonihineq tion of a driving easing, two driven mehr bers therein having ineens to nonrotatebly connect them to wheel shafts and provided with ratchet teeth, eoperiiting toothed inem- 10 bers operatively connected with said easing lto be connected to one o1" sind und adapted te engage Suid ratchet Leeih for forwzird drive, ratchet toothed ineeh- :uiisyn also within said casing und adapted driven ineinhers for reverse drive, hy Said casing' to diseonliec said .meeh- :inisin during` the formird drive.

in testimony whereof have hereunto sei; my hund.

JUH D. LLEN.

und ineens; carried 

